Large-scale afforestation can mitigate calamity effect


Express New Service
First Published : 13 Oct 2008 08:22:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 13 Oct 2008 11:36:49 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: Calamity-wise Orissa remains at the receiving end — for ever. Surprisingly, the mitigation measures never get more priority than the ‘relief’ and the Centre — which denies the State’s due share starting from mineral royalty to post-flood assistance — continues with its step-motherly treatment in all aspects.

The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), which sanctions projects for plantation over two lakh hectares in a year, had sanctioned funds to afforest only 30,000 hectares in the current year. Sanctions for more afforestation area could have helped Orissa in better calamity control.

But how does forest cover help in this regard?

Recently, some experts partly blamed ‘bad reservoir management’ for the floods. But on analysis, one can find that siltation is caused by deforestation at the upper end. Also as the sedimented river beds are incapable of containing the inflow of excess ‘reservoir water,’ flood is caused due to ‘the spilling over’ process of excess basin water to the plains.